Monday, June 11, 2007

Yet more anxiety and amusement all rolled into one.

Remember the doily I knit for a wedding present? This one?Uh, yeah. The wedding was last weekend. What I did NOT know, was that most of the groom's family is Mennonite. The Mennonites are related to the Amish, and shun the technology of the modern world. Meaning, they still SEW AND KNIT THEIR OWN CLOTHING. I just sent off a doily I chose for easy, quick knitting, to one of the last groups of people in the country who still takes knitting seriously as an everyday way to dress their children.

I recently spent some time with The Baby's (no, my baby!) new girlfriend's family. Her father is "fallen-away" Amish and he was impressed that I was making socks. In fact he agreed to let his daughter come here for two weeks. Maybe the recipient will be impressed that you cared enough to make something rather than go shopping, even if you think it's too simple for words (are you nuts?! tiny littel needles, tiny little stitches....)

I think it's beautiful. Simple things, made with skill, made by hand, made with love and appreciation of the craft. How is that not an appropriate gift? An electric hand mixer - that would be a bad gift.

I agree with the others. It was a perfect gift, especially for someone from a Mennonite family. How much more appropriate is that than something store-bought? Besides, although you chose it to be "easy," it doesn't look easy. It looks beautiful. Although his family is Mennonite, surely not all of them are knitters, and easy pattern or not, they will appreciate the time you took to knit it for them.

There are Mennonites somewhere in my family, because they keep showing up at the hillbilly reunion in August. They show up in cars and they keep pop cold with ice in a cooler. About the only difference I really notice is that the women wear skirts or dresses and put their hair up in something that looks like a coffee filter.

Don't fret. I'm sure your gift will be appreciated for the work you put into it, and if anyone gives it a hairy eyeball, they can throw down the gauntlet and challenge you to a duel.

I love all these sweet comments! Cos I'm gonna say the same thing--the time; effort; thoughtfulness to put the time and effort into making something; and even now, the concern you have that this gift may not be "good enough"--all will be appreciated by the recipients.

Really, I have to agree with those who have pointed out that not everyone would be a knitter. Indeed, not every Amish or Mennonite community would necessarily excel at all handmade crafts. For example, any Amish-made furniture generally comes from the Pennsylvania area. When we spent part of our summer driving through central-eastern Illinois, the Amish community there apparently was more into sewing than fibrecrafts such as spinning and knitting. Nary a yarn shop, and barely any yarn, in sight.

So, you never know. And I know, I'm only talking about the Amish communities I know of, so it may not even apply to your Mennonite friends. In any case, I know your kind gift will be much loved. :)

I, too, have known Mennonites (united Mennonites, actually) who drove, played video games, etc. But if these Mennonites are, in fact, the kind who shun modern luxuries and knit their own clothes they would probably not have time to make such luxuries as lace doilies anyway!

Backstory

I'm currently a stay at home mother, freelance writing on my off time, wondering how I became part of the ten thousand year old tradition of raising the kids while creating textiles.
I grew up in NE Ohio dairy country, married a sailor, lived in Hawaii ten years, lived in SC for five years, then moved back to culture shock and confusion.
Nothing but good times ahead.